THE VANGUARDS OF 20th AND 21st CENTURY PSYCHEDELIC MUSIC LEAD THE WAY WITH NEW STUDIO ALBUM
"the Gong legacy gets a blast of adrenaline" All About Jazz
Remember; there is only now. Following the success of their 2016 album, Rejoice! I'm Dead!, which was a transitional album in the evolution of Gong and was an opportunity to say goodbye to the great Daevid Allen, the current formation of Gong are releasing an album for them. The Universe Also Collapses is the sound of Gong in 2019, as vanguards of 21st century psychedelia; propulsive, mystical and ecstatic.
Having spent the past two years touring the world, including dates in Japan with psych legend Steve Hillage, multiple headline European tours and festivals, America's Cruise to the Edge festival, a South America headline tour and a headline performance at Tomorrow Festival in China, the band have won the hearts of both traditional and modern Gong fanbases. During this live journey, Gong have delved further into the truly psychedelic, exploratory and mind-expanding side of the music, and have created an album which reflects their experience.
Frontman Kavus Torabi explains the concept behind the new material "Lyrically it can be summed up with the phrase 'Remember there is only now', which was originally the working title! Everything is happening at once and always will be. There is only this and there is only now. This is both a statement about where the band is at, being part of the long Gong continuum but being here and now as Gong in 2019 but the birth and death of the universe too. The Big bang and the eventual collapse of the Universe and everything in between is all happening in the same instant. In this very moment. Time is an illusion. All we have it this and it is beautiful."
The Universe Also Collapses was recorded at Snorkel Studios in London, engineered and mixed by Frank Byng, mastered by Andy Jackson at Tube Mastering and features new artwork designed by 57 Design. Gong will be heading on an extensive UK tour beginning in May in support of the new album. This LP edition is presented on 180g heavyweight black vinyl in single sleeve packaging with a printed inner bag.
